ENGINEERING SPECIFICATION IN 2018 – A SUMMARY

It’s been a busy year with several changes in Engineering compliance within the industry which has affected us all. Major changes over the year have included:

Amendment 16 to NZBC B1/VM1, introduced the almost new Steel Standard AS/NZS 5131, providing new methods of compliance for:

Documentation & submission requirements (some)

Fabrication

Erection

Modifications to existing structures

Architecturally exposed structural steel

Inspections of welding and bolting

Evaluation of slip factors

Avoidance of lamellar tearing

The introduction of the fundamental concept of Construction Category (CC), which is linked to the Importance Level (1 to 4 from AS/NZS 1170.0) of the structure, as well as Service Category (SC1, SC2) and Fabrication Category (FC1, FC2).

The updates also affected Levels of Traceability, Tolerances & Finishes and Corrosion Protection - SEE MASTERSPEC NOTES JUNE 2018

All existing Masterspec structural steel sections were updated to use AS/NZS 5131

The publishing of a new section 3415 ARCHITECTURALLY EXPOSED STRUCTURAL STEEL reflecting all the above changes plus more demanding levels of finishing - READ THE IN-DEPTH ARTICLE FROM JULY NOTES

Updates to AS/NZS 4600:2018 Cold-formed steel structures. The new 2018 version has a large number of changes including numerous amendments, additions, deletions and moving of clauses. For a full rundown SEE MASTERSPEC NOTES AUGUST 2018

We have been adding and updating changes to Hydraulic, Fire and Electrical Standards as they have been published throughout the year.

2018 has seen great growth in our Engineering fraternity and we have had much pleasure in training a range of new practices in both the Structural & Civil and Services libraries. Those of you who have been with us for a while now should find your project registers will have developed and be providing the practice with a good knowledge-base for on-boarding those who are new to specification.

Currently the Masterspec engineering libraries are under external expert review, especially in mechanical services, and those changes will be implemented in the first half of 2019. Also in 2019 we will be running dedicated Engineering specification workshops - the details will be announced in the New Year.

We look forward to bringing more of Masterspec to you in 2019! Have a great Christmas.